1974 ] 
Peck — Catopocerus 
379 
Collection, Latrobe, Penn.; UK, University of Kansas, Entomology 
Collection; USNM, United States National Museum. 
Bionomics 
The general collector may occasionally encounter Catopocerus 
under large rocks and logs in mountain forests. Large series are 
most usually taken in the spring and fall and only by extraction from 
soil and litter with the Tullgren modification of a Berlese funnel. 
Some species have been found in caves in the eastern interior low 
plateaus. Here they are usually under rocks in organic soil near cave 
entrances. The use of carrion bait has been useful in attracting the 
beetles in caves. 
Food probably consists of organic debris and associated yeasts and 
fungi. Several species of Catopocerus have been repeatedly taken on 
subterranean fungi in Oregon and Washington (Fogel and Peck, in 
MS) and the eastern species may have similar habits. A laboratory 
colony of the beetles reproduced and developed on bakers yeast on 
moist soil. C. hamiltoni was taken congregated around a dead beetle 
larva, and the many beetles taken on carrion bait in caves were un- 
doubtedly attracted to the carrion for the purposes of feeding and/or 
oviposition. 
Only one certain case of sympathy is known. Thirty-four C. ulkei 
and 1 1 C. appalachianus were taken together in io kg of litter near 
Whitmer, W. Va. 
Reproduction may occur throughout the year in caves, but in forest 
litter is probably most active in the spring. Larvae and teneral adults 
have been found most commonly in early spring in litter. One species 
has been reared from eggs. At I5°C, the egg stage lasts about 17 
days, the larval stage about 29 days, and the pupal stage 20 days. 
Three species have been found in caves in Alabama and Tennessee. 
However, this association with caves is only facultative, for these soil- 
inhabiting (edaphobitic) beetles probably accidentally enter caves, 
but once there can survive and reproduce. 
One of these species, C. appalachianus is found at higher elevations 
in the Appalachians near the soil surface under rocks and in litter. 
If the preferred environment of the beetles is a montane type of 
stable, cool, and moist environment, this will be found at lower 
elevations deeper in the soil. Collecting of surface soil and litter has 
never taken the beetles at the lower elevations of the Cumberland 
Plateau or Highland Rim of Alabama or Tennessee. Thus, in the 
cave region, the beetles’ normal soil habitat must be too deep to be 
